Wisconsin State Park System State Ice Age Trail Areas

View from the top of Gibraltar Rock in Columbia County.

State Ice Age Trail Areas (SIATAs) are lands purchased by the DNR for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail under the authority of s. 23.09 (2)(d) 10., Stats., unless purchased as part of another department project. The primary purpose of State Ice Age Trail Areas is to permanently protect segments of the Ice Age Trail, preserve Wisconsin's glacial landscape features and other natural and cultural resources and, where possible, offer primitive and remote opportunities for visitors to experience a quiet connection with nature. SIATAs offer low-impact public recreation such as hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing while protecting the natural and scenic character of the Ice Age Trail corridor.

Intended and allowed management activities include trail construction, creation of dispersed camping areas and invasive species control. The desired condition of the properties is for good quality natural communities. When developing the natural resource management section of the property master plan, the specific characteristics of each State Ice Age Trail Area are considered, including the pre-settlement vegetation, existing vegetation, soil types, landscape position and context and feasibility of the department and its partners to maintain the natural community types.

Dispersed Camping

A few State Ice Age Trail Areas offer dispersed camping opportunities as part of a pilot program. These areas are being established to increase camping options for Ice Age Trail long-distance hikers in areas where there are currently no other convenient camping options. Similar to primitive camping areas, dispersed camping areas lack facilities and no permits or reservations are required. The hiker may camp anywhere within sight of a centrally located sign that defines the dispersed camping area. These areas are for long-distance hikers only and are not open for those doing single-night out-and-back hikes. For more information on dispersed camping, and a list of suggested backpacking itineraries, see the backpacking information [exit DNR] on the Ice Age Trail Alliance website.

State Ice Age Trail Area maps

SIATAs are open for hiking/walking. Some properties or portions of properties are open for hunting and trapping during the Wisconsin state parks hunting time frame. No hunting or trapping is allowed within 100 yards of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail on SIATA properties. For more information, please see: Hunting and trapping in Wisconsin State Parks.